BEIJING, -- For the first time, Chinese-made supersonic fighters are being used at the People's Liberation Army's Air Force's flight academy to reform pilot training, the state-media reported Tuesday, March 10. The fighter is "low lost, highly efficient, safe and simple to use and maintain," the PLA Daily, the Chinese military's mouthpiece, said. Currently, flight instructors are the only ones capable of piloting the aircraft.

After training more instructors, the supersonic fighters will become a new training model at the flight academy.
Previously, cadets spent one or two years in the air force before receiving supersonic fighter training after graduation.

Following the reform, the air force's pressure to train supersonic pilots will be somewhat alleviated and the limited training resources will be focused on real combat drills, the report said.

An Air Force officer said the introduction of supersonic fighters can shorten the training span between academies and the military, further elevate training instructors' tactics level, "greatly shorten pilots' training cycle" and give full play to the capacity of current armaments.

The Hongdu L-15 Falcon is a supersonic training and light attack aircraft being developed by Nanchang-based Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation (HAIG) to meet the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF) lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) requirements.

People's Liberation Army Air Force Hongdu L-15 Falcon supersonic training and light attack aircraft. The L-15 will be used as a lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force.